In a significant legal development, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal in a high-profile defamation case involving Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Vere Bird III. The decision, delivered on September 17, 2025, upheld the earlier ruling by Justice Nicola Byer, which found that Prime Minister Browne’s statements regarding Mr. Bird’s alleged benefit from an illegitimate cabinet decision were true, justified, and fair comment. The case dates back to April 27, 2023, when the High Court ruled in favor of the Prime Minister, stating that Mr. Bird had indeed benefited from a cabinet decision to sell him Crown lands at a preferential rate reserved for parliamentarians. Mr. Bird, dissatisfied with the initial ruling, appealed on sixteen grounds, all of which were unanimously dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The court also awarded costs to Prime Minister Browne, with the exact amounts currently under assessment. This ruling reinforces the legal standing of the Prime Minister’s comments and underscores the judiciary’s role in adjudicating complex political disputes.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne Wins Defamation appeal against Vere Bird III
